Breaking down who won the Vladimir Tarasenko trade: Rangers or Blues
Vladimir Tarasenko was involved in a blockbuster trade between the New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues on Thursday. I think we need to really see who won the trade. I will be giving both the Rangers and Blues grades on how each other did in this trade.
Details on the Trade:
The Blues sent over Tarasenko and defenseman Niko Mikkola to the Rangers, while St. Louis received Sammy Blais, Hunter Skinner, a conditional 2023 first-round pick and a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick in return.
St. Louis Blues Grade: A-
Now, I know what some of you may be thinking. How did you give the Blues an A- on this trade? They traded away Tarasenko?
Well, I gave them an A- because getting rid of Tarasenko was something you had to do. He is an injury prone player with a big contract who is a free agent at the end of the year. That sounds like a ship off to me. There was no point in keeping him just for him to get injured and produce less and less each season. You wouldn’t want to give him a bag in the offseason, too. It makes no sense.
Now, if the Rangers took 100 percent of Tarasenko’s salary, I would immediately have given the Blues an A. Blues win this trade.
New York Rangers Grade: C-
Yes, I gave the Rangers a C- on this trade and that’s being generous. The Rangers lost this trade flat out, no questions asked.
While they get Tarasenko for a few months, they’ll have to pay him if they want to keep him. He’s an aging player who is injury prone, and you gave up a prospect and a first round pick. That doesn’t make sense to me at all. The Blues absolutely gave the Rangers a masterclass in this one.
Overall, the Blues really cashed in on this one. I don’t think it was particularly close, in fact. They did the best they could in getting something for Tarasenko after all these years. Big W for the Blues.
Side note: it’s been almost two years since Tarasenko requested a trade and it finally happened.
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